Community Chat

[They Call Me MR Wilkes]

A crane caught fire causing parts to collapse to the street, along with a concrete load.

This occurred at 7:30 am at 10th Avenue and 41st Street at a luxury apartment building under construction. 

There are currently 6 reported fire personnel and civilian injuries, though none severe.

Large scale street closures in the Hells Kitchen and Times Square area are in place  

It is truly remarkable that casualties were not more numerous,  as pedestrians scrambled away in terror!

[beckyb1012]

I have been watching the coverage on several media sites and it is amazing that there have not been any deaths.

[JudyL]

How terrifying!  That poor crane operator - can't imagine what he/she must have gone through.  Hope those injured will be ok.

[They Call Me MR Wilkes]

From what I have heard, the construction workers at the site were able to block off the street and sidewalks before the collapse  onto 10th Avenue. 

[Jk9]

Makes my dealing with the occasional snake, skunk and other wildlife and spiders seem minor.  Guess I will continue to be thankful I live "in the country".  

Sounds like emergency and other personnel did a good job dealing with the disaster.

[catter70]

How scary for everyone one involved. 

[They Call Me MR Wilkes]

This was amazing to watch on the local news.  

Firefighters sprayed water from a balcony on a building across 10th Avenue!

[Kachina624]

I wonder how the crane operator managed to escape? I assume he did.

[They Call Me MR Wilkes]

From a New York City Deputy Fire Commissioner at a press conference:

“A crane operator was operating the crane, lifting 16 tons of concrete, when he saw the fire and tried to extinguish it. So we give a lot of credit to the crane operator, but the fire overwhelmed the operator and he had to exit the crane.”

[They Call Me MR Wilkes]

The injured have been revised to 12, but all are non-life threatening. 

3 firefighters and 9 civilians (including construction workers.)

Still miraculous it wasn’t worse.